Some years back, I was lucky enough to attend a bluegrass festival in the mountains of Telluride, Colorado where Doc Watson was one of the performers. I was the great fortune to meet him and talk with him for a few minutes. He is truly as mild mannered as he seems in this video. He's also as blind as a rock. Of interest, also, is the banjo player. He's playing the "clawhammer" or "whamming" technique which is almost a dead art. Most banjoists nowadays play the "Scruggs 3 finger roll picking" technique. Hmmm. When it comes to trivia, am I just "full of it"?
That is so cool! *jealous* I would love to sit down with some coffee and visit with him. Could I settle for you someday? Coffee & music chat?
Our oldest is teaching herself banjo - we gave her one for Christmas last year. I'm pretty sure she's learning the finger roll picking technique. Hopefully, if she keeps with it, someday she can find someone to teach her the clawhammer.
Here comes some more jealousy your way. My banjo head is autographed by none other than Pete Wernick, Sonny Osborne, Mac Wiseman, "Little" Roy Lewis,and the late-great "Father of Bluegrass Music" BILL MONROE. Spent a week on a Bluegrass Cruise with them back in '86 except for Pete Wernick. I took a week lessons at his "banjo camp" from him in Colorado back in the day. On the cruise I got to get up and close with the others while chatting over a beer. Could have jammed with some of them but was too shy and untalented.
Oh yeah, one more piece of trivia. Your Gt Grandpa "Dolph" Marler played the banjo in the "clawhammer" method. Of interest, also, he was an "end man" in a black-face minstrel group as a young man. End men were the ones who sent "one liner" jokes back and forth during a number.
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Some years back, I was lucky enough to attend a bluegrass festival in the mountains of Telluride, Colorado where Doc Watson was one of the performers. I was the great fortune to meet him and talk with him for a few minutes. He is truly as mild mannered as he seems in this video. He's also as blind as a rock. Of interest, also, is the banjo player. He's playing the "clawhammer" or "whamming" technique which is almost a dead art. Most banjoists nowadays play the "Scruggs 3 finger roll picking" technique.
Hmmm. When it comes to trivia, am I just "full of it"?
That is so cool! *jealous* I would love to sit down with some coffee and visit with him. Could I settle for you someday? Coffee & music chat?
Our oldest is teaching herself banjo - we gave her one for Christmas last year. I'm pretty sure she's learning the finger roll picking technique. Hopefully, if she keeps with it, someday she can find someone to teach her the clawhammer.
Here comes some more jealousy your way. My banjo head is autographed by none other than Pete Wernick, Sonny Osborne, Mac Wiseman, "Little" Roy Lewis,and the late-great "Father of Bluegrass Music" BILL MONROE. Spent a week on a Bluegrass Cruise with them back in '86 except for Pete Wernick. I took a week lessons at his "banjo camp" from him in Colorado back in the day. On the cruise I got to get up and close with the others while chatting over a beer. Could have jammed with some of them but was too shy and untalented.
Oh yeah, one more piece of trivia. Your Gt Grandpa "Dolph" Marler played the banjo in the "clawhammer" method. Of interest, also, he was an "end man" in a black-face minstrel group as a young man. End men were the ones who sent "one liner" jokes back and forth during a number.
*extra jealous*
I knew g-grandpa 'Dolph picked, but I did not know about the minstrel thing. Too cool! Imagine ... a Marler trading one-liners. LOL!
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